Gag press



Dec. 23, 1947. E. T. PETERSON I 2,433,322

GAG PRESS Filed May 4, 1944 9 Sheetg-Shee'c, 1

Y www Dec. 23, 1947. E. T. PETERSQN l 2,433,322

GAG PRES S Filed May 4, 1944 9 sheets-'sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1947. E. T. PETERSON 2,433,322

GAG PRESS Firled May 4, 1944 l 9 Sheets-Sheet I5 Dec. 23, 1947.4 E.Y T. PETERSON 2,433,322

GAG PRESS Filed May4, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 bw/uro Thu/ram Dec. 23, 1.947. E. T. Pl-:ITlRsoNl GAG'PRESS Filed May 4, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 l Dec. 23, y1947. E. T. PETERSON GAG PRESS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 4, 1944 Eon/Ra TFsrewfso/v,

Dec. 23, 1947. E. T. PETERSON 2,433,322 y GAG PRESS Filed May* 4, 1944 9 sheets-sheet 7 l f la Dec, 23, 1947.v E. T. PETERSON GAG PRE S S Filed May 4, 1944A y 9 Sheets-Shet 8 Eon/ana THerc/rsa/v,

Dec. 23, 1.947, E. T. PETERSON GAG PRESS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 4, 1944 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 GAG PRESS Edward T. Peterson, Reading, Pa., assigner to Birdsboro Steel Foundry & Machine Co., Birdsboro, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 4, 1944, Serial No. 534,175

The invention pertains to a gag press incident to the fabrication of steel and particularly the straightening operation of billets and the like.

An object of the invention is the provision, in a gag press, of a billet manipulator whereby a billet out of true alignment can be rotated about its normal longitudinal axis so as to subject it to the action of a ram in the course of the straightening process thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a gag press, a billet manipulator arranged to support a billet for substantially its entire length and rotate the billet so that it may be acted upon by a straightening ram.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a gag press, a billet manipulator located in the path of a billet and between an approach table and a run out table so that the billet may be picked up in its travel and rotated as desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in a gag press, of a billet manipulator having portions thereof disposed below conveyor means and arranged so that a billet may be picked up from the conveyor, rotated a certain desired degree and deposited on the conveyor.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the succeeding description considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a gag press embodying the present invention.

Figure 1A is a continuation of the gag press shown in Figure 1 and showing that portion of the gag press to the right of Figure 1.

: Figure 1B is a continuation to the left of the gag press shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1,1coking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2A is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2A-2A of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2B is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2B--2B of Figure 1A, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1A, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4'is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to the disclosure in Figure 4 except that the related parts are in another than normal relationship.

5 Claims. (Cl. 153-48) Figure 6 is a partial transverse sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 2A, looking in the direction of the arrows.

By referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings which disclose an exemplified form of the invention, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate in a general manner, a gag press, forming a component in the manufacture of steel and more particularly adapted to straighten billets and the like. By considering generally the gag press so as to afford a clear understanding of the invention, billets 2, indicated diagrammatically, are deposited by a crane (not shown) or any other means on a, loading platform or bed 3 which comprises conveniently spaced supports 4 each having associated ends of horizontally disposed transverse skids 5 arranged in pairs and secured to the supports. The opposite ends of the skids are firmly fastened to and supported by an underlying foundation beam 6 extending horizontally and longitudinally of the gag press. Interposed between each pair of skids is a shuffle bar 'I having one end thereof riding upon or between suitable wheels 8 which are carried by the supports so as to render the shuflle bar freely movable. The opposite end of the shuliie bars are fastened securely to a longitudinally disposedV underlying cross bar 9 which joins all of the shuflie bars and is connected to an eccentric shaft It] arranged, upon rotation, to impart an oscillatory and rotary motion to the shuffle bars. In this manner, therefore, billets are progressively raised from the skids and moved toward the extremity of the skids removed from the supports.

Acting as a billet receiving medium or an approach table are a plurality of delivery conveyor forming rollers I2 extending transversely of the gag press and conveniently spaced longitudinally thereof in the proximity of the free or delivery end of the loading bed, so that successive actions of the shuffle bars will result in the deposit of a billet or billets on the rollers or delivery conveyor. The rollers I2 have their related extremities suitably accommodated by table girder supported bearings I3 while the other extremities are similarly carried so as to render the rollers easily rotatable. The last named extremities of the delivery conveyor rollers are associated with housings I4 encasing suitable beveled gears (not shown). A line shaft I5 extends through all of the housings and is joined to the beveled gears so as to be arranged to impart motion thereto. A driving mechanism I6, comprising a motor Ia and reduction gears (not shown) within a housjacent the runl'out table.

ing Ib is operatively connected to the line shaft I5 so that a movement of the motor will be reflected in a rotary action of the delivery conveyor rollers. Adjacent to an inner extremity of the delivery conveyor is a buffer bar or swinging guide I1 so that upon movement of a billet along the delivery conveyor it will lbe steered or directed into a restricted predetermined vpath in itsftravel along thegagpre'ss. A roller I 2a'of shorter extent than the rollers I2 is also operatively conf nected to the line shaft but is positioned beyond the swinging guide to form a portion of the delivery conveyor and function as a billet support beyond the buffer bar. i

Disposed adjacent to the short approach table is a framework roller I2 a of the '9 having as a partthereef. two, dies. suitably spaced longitudinally of the gag press. Arranged through suitable mechanism toV move transversely in a path between the dies is a plunger or 'ram 2Iso that as 'billet is manipulated along'its pathof travel anda straightening 'operar tion becomes necessary;"the` ram is actuated "to-Y ward the dies to act upon the portion ofth'billet spanning lor bridging the dies'. "Two idlingrollers 22`are` associated withthe'press NI8 so'as' tob'e in" supporting' relation with that' portion 'of thebilllt' immediately over' the'pr'ess in the varea of 'the' dies and ram'. After' thebiu'etis completely straight; enea it is movedlongitudinallyoftnepress'ontoa' run out table 23 whichin eiect, formsa longif;y tudinal extension orV continuation of the approach or aenver'y table; Tristan 'eutl tame is' desirabl'y formed ylinfa series of receiving "conveyor rollers'` 24 intermittently lspaced longitvudinally of the gag press and having` Y journaled in bearings 2 5 i mountedv upon, ai' table gder 2G.- The "Ot .'etegllitl Qfthroll'rs are. suitably journaled land associ ted; with gear boxes 21 which house'intermeshilrlgfv Vcldfgearslnot shown) 'Extending thrfOlIghjthe gal'vboXeSfZJ is a line shaft Zgoperativelyconrie edto'all of 'the related gears. sorta-al1.'Qtthre l rollers can be'rotatedfin'un'isv rangement comprisihg'amotr ,9L-a d 3 Il' is operatively'connected to' the'` line1 that ana'ctiorr ofthe/meter Willreslt mmedpositipn: taketh-"ermee slzgi's disp@ lq, iongitudinauyof the gag'presfsagid positioneiadi-h This kick-oiheadvis connected; thougl'ithlmedia 'df shaftsfandsutiab1e1ever's 3.3, with 'a motrfs'glts,thatupenlagtuj ation of tneindtdr 34 "the kni'cykfqfr, heaqlwiube urged transversely'ofthe gagpress acrossthe out table t push: afinishedorstraightenedbillet or billets offr of the run out table,tolreceiving;bilflet l cardles' 315; Y

means for the purposeof storing Otfurtherproc- @Ssng .'01 fabricating@ maybe desired.

It is t0 be. netedxthat .when a billet.. requires...

straightening andislplaceduponthe loading bed;

tudinal axis. In ,such cases,

arrangementwherebya'billet;during the time or operation. after being-subjected tofthe action`='of.

press proper I8 'comprising arv associated extremities suitably l Y from. whence they are.removedY by a craneY (not shown)v organyother suitable? therefore, it becomes; necessaryV to provide `or, incorporatemeansfinthei theramin,theactualstraighteningioperatin;may

be so manipulated or physically moved to a position as to make the subsequent action of the ram eiective for the purpose intended. The manipulator means must also be of such design and arrangement that a billet of round or square cross sectional conguration may be effectively rotated.

With the above, therefore, in grind, there has beeincrpgrtdl in the tables aldjaeent, to the press, a billetmanipulating mechanism or means generally designated as at 36 and comprising a pair of stands 31 suitably spaced apart and disp'osedon each side of the press I8. The stands, desirably of cast form, are anchored securely to the `f" 'dation'anf are arranged in a row or vlcingituolinally of the gag press at a is'providedwith spaced upstanding arms 38 forming bearing brackets for the accommodation of a horizontal pin 39 spanning and removably held Within the afmb nl .elei men. 0.1. melf'ho@ Pi'vtaily s'erfed to athtan t' ou i itsrelated pin is"- nassciatedbush' glined hub 4:9; of a Cradle Urli/Flick, iS? di'gll. S'fbsgtntally .horizon t11 '"i1l.`. tllnSi/'elselx 'fftfi ag'prs's 'It Will'be, ntedthat' th 'stands 'are s. arranged. and dis-g POS that? @IQ-h'dlcfe 15,9, d@ into', fhg-a1??? between two relatedco'nvey rffo ing.inllersandy that the pair of cradlestdthe r h t oflthepress proper, when. viewing. the .Fig rire'1jise.ries f the' drawings, arite edbetweeh rllersofthe. 1 he. paffof. cradles to` the.' lft'of the"Dress prop interposed. bett various rollers' oftheun 'o table.' "By this a1:-v ransement, an appreciable. d1 arkl in and.Y abQpt the 'are'af of.'y the' pressL is' .spanned .by 'tlfieA cradles; tp adequately, properly? an effectively underlieY theA areaoccldbyanov y` billet. Each ladle. Katia@ f1.1) r. 'Ptin 42,; theret formed.' byside Iwallslllitfjoilied'atan inner ex-V trlififlbythhu PWhlvl/hatllght betermed, asthe y' outer" Vextremity' of acy 4cradleV isl formed hija conn'etin" .elle Wanda A1201? yrallie-t. rter.1 .i.r .1 fflfe-ai`h14b0t an. renewable, .distance.trovare` the "related end'wall, wheretfit terminatesin ref.. ..Spaedf from andsubstantiauy parallelv with the endz wall to thereby. present; a. ri'gidcomponentof; the ,manipulatonmeans An.- gularly disposed ribs 41 also join relatedside walls. t9... rdfx the.. Cradles... against. stresses to which they wth be subjeeteefin service.

Bdllg the Side..Wallstintermediate theend walls 'and-reentrantnange of. eachcradl'e .is apai.. of parallel spacedgshafts. having. extremities- Clipper@ Suitable Semi-.circular bearingsformed in the upper limits of the,si.de walls. Top halt;A bearings. foxmirracans daadequatny. and .removaily. Secured.; in. place. through. the. mdium: of.: any desired means overlie the shaft extremities. ISQQQIXlDlQ.- full; bearingsand permit affreeA running of thewshafts! Snitably'.securedthroughmh. key 50 to each shaft is a, rotatingifmeans, roll. or rQllerVAS/I .so Ithat eachcradle hasIadj'acentQone egtremityginrthe .proximity ofth. conveyors-.a.pair-v of spaced rotating means, rollsor rbllersarrangedl' or,` disposed transversely. ofa the gag press and responsive to. anymotio. f the' relatedsliaftfsnlv` Each rotating means, roll-'of "roller'is preferably made in the Tormof alu'lley 'groove'd'roller andY in this'fregard -eah'roll or rol is 'providdf with a circumambient recess' or groovefE-'wh lA jected in service.

with the teeth or serrations if they are provided and which may be of an ordinary type of chain. A certain degree of slack is provided in the chain for the purpose to be hereinafter explained and because of this sag or slack a support plate 54 is disposed in underlying relation with the bottom flight or portion of the chain to maintain that portion in an elevated position out of the way of related structure. Securing means 55 is employed to hang the support plate from an associated cradle side wall. It is to be noted that the top flight of the rolls or rollers of each set which is represented by the diagrammatic line B as well as the flight of each chain, represented by the diagrammatic line C, is normally below the top flight of therollers of the approach and run out tables represented by the diagrammatic line marked A so that the billets may be moved along the tables free from any interference by the manipulator.

Means has been incorporated in the manipulator to drive the roll or rollers and chain combinations and toward the accomplishment .of this end each shaft is preferably provided with a fixed pinion 56 disposed between a roller and a related side wall of the cradle. Suitably journaled to the side walls of each cradle below the plane of the rolls or rollers is an intermediate gear 51 which intermeshes with the related pinions 56. Each intermediate gear which is rotatably associated with a locked, side wall supported and` bridging axle 58 has a hub 59 extending therefrom to the proximity of 'an associated side wall so as to prevent an unwarranted shifting of the intermediate gear from its predetermined pinion meshing position. Each gear, therefore, is maintained in a fixed position between the adjacent side walls. So as to facilitate assembly of the cradles, each cradle is desirably provided with a lower or bottom portion 6D removably secured to the upper portion by means of bolts 6I and with the line of juncture between the top and bottom portions offset as at 52 to insure a proper and predesignated assembly of the two portions. A lower portion generally comprises a bottom wall 63 having rising therefrom sub-side walls 64 which are joined by diverging end webs 65 to form a rigid box-like structure capable of withstanding the stresses to which it will be sub- The side walls of the top portion and the sub-side walls of the lower portion are provided with facing semi-circular bearing forming hubs 65 shown in Figures 2 and 2A with the line of demarcation therebetween being common to the line of juncture 62 so that when the two portions are in assembled relation a full bearing will be formed while upon disassembly complete half bearings will be present in each portion.

Extending through all of the cradles and properly journaled in or supported by the bearing forming hubs, is a drive shaft B1 having removably secured thereto through the medium of keys 68, bottom or drive gears 69. Each drive gear is in meshed relationship with an adjacent intermediate gear 51 so that any rotary motion imparted to the drive shaft will be reflected in the chain and rolls or rollers. This arrangement also provides for all of the chains and rolls to be driven in unison. So as to prevent a shifting of the drive shaft longitudinally of its axis, a preferably single collar (see Figure 2A) is removably secured to the drive shaft and occupies the area between one of the drive gears and its opposed bearing forming hub. The drive shaft extremity, in the proximity of the approach table or delivery conveyor, is provided with a coupling 'H which is connected to an inclined spindle 12 provided at its `other end with another coupling 13; both couplings type to form universal joints. This last named coupling is operatively connected to a gear type motor 'I4 of any desired characteristics so that any action on the part of the motor will, through the connected components, be reflected in a rotary `motion in the roll or rollers and a travel of the chains. i

Y As previously indicated, the flight of the rolls as well as the flight of the chains are normally below the flight of the approach and run out tables and in order to effect a turning or manipulating action of a billet, means is incorporated in the gag press to elevate the flight of the rolls and chain above the ight of the tables. Toward the accomplishment of this end, therefore, each lower cradle portion is provided with spaced, jawforming lugs i5 (see Figures 2, 2A, 4 and 5) depending from a related bottom wall and suitably apertured to accommodate a wrist pin 16. Pivotally associated with each wrist pin is a substantially vertical link or arm 11 so that each cradle is provided with an individual link.V Spaced below each cradle is a stand or bearing support 'i8 which functions as an anchor for a related portion of an uninterrupted eccentric means or crank shaft 'i9 having portions thereof forming journals for the lower extremities of the links or arms. The crank shaft is connected to and driven by a suitable motor means 80.

From the foregoing it will be noted that as a billet is moved to a desired position within the range of the press ram and a turning action of the billet is required to position properly the billet for an effectual straightening operation,`

the motor will be started to thereby raise the manipulator whereby the billet resting upon the conveyors will be picked up by the rolls and chain combinations, raising the billet from the conveyors. A manipulation of the gear motor 14. f will cause the rolls and chain combinations to move, and in this manner the billet will be rotated about its normal longitudinal axis. That is to say, in actual practice it has been found that when the chain and roller combinations are manipulated the billet, by reason of it resting upon the sagging part of the chain, will have one face thereof urged upwardly along the raised or higher portion of each of one roller in a combination, thereby tilting the billet to such an extent that the billet will eventually be rotated about its axis. The rolls and chain combinations lend themselves toward the rotating of either a round or square billet, since the round billet will bear against the outer or peripheral surface of the rolls, while a square billet will have a corner thereof engaged by the chains to effect a rotation of the billet. After the elevated billet has assumed the desired position a continued action on the part of the motor 80 will result in the billet and its supporting structure being lowered where it will once more rest upon the conveyors and be subjected to the action of the ram. i

From the foregoing it will be clearly understood that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a billet manipulator, the combination of,

1| and 13 are of a flexible aseriesoi animierte` aeeries of aligned. cradles.-y

eacnhayinaan end thereof nivotally Secured one of said. supports, conveyor. means arranged" tornovea billetover saidcradles and; having; av l ht in a plane spacedl above related extremities of; .said cradles, each cradlehavng a related eX- identityk associated. with Said` conveyor, aA plural-` ity: of: roller means J'ournaled in` each cradle, clrain` means joining` relatedy roller, means and; beinar disposed below the periphery of said rollerrneans. actuating means carriedby each. cradle joined to said roller means, drive means extending; through andi carried byall; of. said cradles for imparting motion to saidiactuatine means, and. means fpr movingsaid cradles so that portions ofrf said. endless means will be positioned above tim-night of: said conveyor means.

2;. In a gag press havingr spaced dies and a rain. bead. disposed onpositelyfrom said dies, and arrangedqto move in a path between said dies, thefcomblnationof, a conveyor for carrying billets Within the range o said dies and ram head, aplurality-of stands, cradles spaced on each side of said ram head and each having one end thereofpivotally securedto a stand, roller means carred by each of said cradles adjacent said con veyor, said roller means being spacedV transverse- 1y; of said conveyor, endless chain means connecting related roller means and being disposed below the periphery of said' roller means, means for drivingV all of said rollermeans, and elevating means connected to said cradles for raising af ight of said roller means and endless chain means above a. llight of saidconveyor.

3.k In a gag press having spaced dies anda ram head disposedioppositely from saiddies, the combination of, spaced rotatable conveyor meansy disposed longitudinally of said gag press on each,

side ofV said dies and. ram head, a series of cradles interposed between certain rotatable con-` veyor means and positioned on each side of said dies. and ram head, pivot means anchoring Yone end ofi each cradle,v transversely spaced groovedroller meanslcarried by each cradl'eremoved from said-pivot. means, slack` linlc means circumambient: associated rollenmeans and'k disposed below outer surface of saidy roller means within grooves thereof', gearmeans within each cradle andv assdcatedin drivingrelation with associated;

comprising spaced rollers journaled in said.

cradle, slack chain means within and connecting saidrollers, said slacky chain means being arranged to support a billet and move the latter along the periphery of one of said rollers for the manipulation thereof; means carried by said' cradle for driving said rollers, and meansconnected' to. said cradle for raising said rollers above said conveyor'. means.

5. In a billet manipulator, the combination of, a cradle journaled at. one extremity, conveyor means disposed adjacent the other extremity of said' cradle, transversely spaced rotatable means journaled in saidcrad-le in the proximity of said conveyor means, endless chain means joining saidY spaced rotatable means and beingA disposed below the periphery of said rotatable means, said chain means being arranged to move a billet along the periphery of one of said rotatable means for turning the billet about its axis, drive means carried by said cradle for moving said rotatable means and endless chain, and lifting meansconnected to said cradle for elevating a billet above said conveyor means.

EDWARD T. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are o f record in the filevof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 32,0,6'10 Wood June 23, 1885 334,455 Muncaster Jan. 19, 1886 711,947 Dittbenner Oct. 28, 1902 887,075 Dittbenlner .--f---e-,May l2, 1908 1,775,851r` Ely Sept. 16, 1930 

